Hinge apparatus for vehicle floor systems

ABSTRACT

Hinges are provided for vehicle floor systems that include an elongated, planar bridge member, and opposite first and second hinge members pivotally attached to the bridge member. The first and second hinge members are each pivotally connected to a respective edge portion of the bridge member. Each hinge member includes a base member and a planar upper panel that extends outwardly from the base member. The upper panel of each hinge member is configured to removably secure a vehicle floor panel thereto. Each hinge member is movable between a first position wherein the upper panel may be substantially coplanar with the bridge member, and a second position wherein the upper panel is transverse to the bridge member. The width of the bridge member is at least twice the pile dimension or compressed pile dimension of overlying carpet to prevent damage to the carpet when the hinge members are pivoted.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/410,089, filed Sep. 12, 2002, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as if set forth fully herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to vehicles and, more particularly, to floor systems within vehicles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Motor vehicles are typically provided with a cargo storage compartment of some type. For example, sedan-style automobiles are conventionally equipped with a trunk. Sport/utility and mini-van vehicles are conventionally provided with a cargo storage area behind the last row of seating.

Vehicle cargo compartments often include a floor panel that overlies a spare tire compartment or additional storage space. Access to an area beneath a floor panel usually is provided by lifting an edge portion of the floor panel and pivoting the floor panel about a hinge. Unfortunately, floor panels may be covered with carpeting which may become pinched by conventional hinges or otherwise damaged from pivotal movement of the floor panel. In addition, vehicle manufacturers are constantly seeking components that are lighter in weight, inexpensive to manufacture, and that have increased strength. Accordingly, there is a need for a hinge that will allow vehicle floor panels to be pivoted without damaging an overlying carpet and that are inexpensive to manufacture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the above discussion, hinges for vehicle floor systems are provided that include an elongated, planar bridge member, and opposite first and second hinge members, each pivotally attached to the bridge member. The bridge member has opposite first and second edge portions and a surface. The first and second hinge members are each pivotally connected to a respective one of the first and second edge portions of the bridge member. Each hinge member includes a base member and a planar upper panel that extends outwardly from the base member. The upper panel of each hinge member is configured to removably secure a vehicle floor panel thereto.

Each hinge member is movable between a first position wherein the upper panel may be substantially coplanar with the bridge member, and a second position wherein the upper panel is transverse to the bridge member. The base members of the hinge members are in adjacent, contacting relationship when the first and second hinge members are both in the first position. The width of the bridge member between the first and second edge portions is selected to be at least twice the pile dimension (or at least twice the compressed pile dimension) of a carpet overlying the hinge. This design criteria can reduce damage to a carpet when the hinge members are moved between first and second positions.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the upper panel of each hinge member includes opposite first and second surfaces, and the first surface of each hinge member is substantially flush with the bridge member surface when the hinge member is in the first position.

According to embodiments of the present invention, the base members of the first and second hinge members interlock with each other when the first and second hinge members are both in the first position. This provides structural rigidity and strength to the hinge.

According to embodiments of the present invention, each hinge member may include a lower panel that extends outwardly from the base member in spaced-apart, opposing relationship with the upper panel. The upper and lower panels of each hinge member are configured to removably secure a vehicle floor panel therebetween. The lower panels of the hinge members may be substantially coplanar when both hinge members are in respective first positions.

According to embodiments of the present invention, a vehicle floor system includes a hinge apparatus as described above, a pair of floor panels, each secured to a respective one of the hinge member upper panels, and a floor covering material (e.g., carpet) supported by the floor panels and by the hinge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a hinge apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention, wherein the hinge members are in respective first positions.

FIG. 1a is an enlarged view of the web of material connecting a hinge member to the bridge member.

FIG. 2 illustrates the hinge apparatus of FIG. 1 wherein the hinge members are in respective second positions.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a vehicle floor system according to embodiments of the present invention, wherein the hinge members are in respective first positions.

FIG. 4 illustrates the vehicle floor system of FIG. 3 wherein the hinge members are in respective second positions.

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a hinge apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention, wherein the hinge members are in respective first positions.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a hinge apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention, wherein the hinge members are in respective first positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention now is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

In the drawings, the thickness of lines, layers and regions may be exaggerated for clarity. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “on” another element, it can be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on” another element, there are no intervening elements present. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “attached” to another element, it can be directly connected or attached to the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly attached” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. The terms “upwardly”, “downwardly”, “vertical”, “horizontal” and the like are used herein for the purpose of explanation only.

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, a hinge apparatus 10 for a vehicle floor system, according to embodiments of the present invention, is illustrated. The hinge apparatus 10 includes an elongated, planar bridge member 12, and opposite first and second hinge members 14, 16. The bridge member 12 includes opposite first and second edge portions 12 a, 12 b and an upper surface 13. Each hinge member 14, 16 is pivotally connected to a respective one of the first and second edge portions 12 a, 12 b of the bridge member 12. In the illustrated embodiment, hinge member 14 is pivotally connected to the bridge member first edge portion 12 a, and hinge member 16 is pivotally connected to the bridge member second edge portion 12 b.

Each hinge member 14, 16 has a base member 14 a, 16 a and a generally planar upper panel 14 b, 16 b extending outwardly from the respective base member 14 a, 16 a, as illustrated. Each hinge member 14, 16 is movable between a first position wherein the upper panel 14 b, 16 b is substantially coplanar with the bridge member 12 (FIG. 1), and a second position wherein the upper panel 14 b, 16 b is transverse to the bridge member 12 (FIG. 2). According to embodiments of the present invention, the base members 14 a, 16 a of the hinge members 14, 16 are in adjacent, contacting relationship when both hinge members 14, 16 are in the first position (FIG. 1). In the illustrated embodiment, the base members 14 a, 16 a of the hinge members 14, 16 interlock with each other when both hinge members 14, 16 are in the first position (FIG. 1). The interlocking of the base members 14 a, 16 a adds structural strength and rigidity to the hinge apparatus 10. The base members 14 a, 16 a, when interlocked, serve the function of a support beam and can support or transfer the weight of floor covering materials (e.g., carpet) and/or other materials and loads placed on the hinge apparatus 10 or on a vehicle load floor associated therewith.

The upper panel 14 b, 16 b of each hinge member 14, 16 includes opposite first and second surfaces 20 a, 20 b and 21 a, 21 b, respectively. The first surface 20 a, 21 a of each upper panel 14 b, 16 b may be substantially flush with the bridge member surface 13 when the respective hinge member 14, 16 is in the first position (FIG. 1). However, it is not required that the first surface 20 a, 21 a of each upper panel 14 b, 16 b be substantially flush with the bridge member surface 13 when the respective hinge member 14, 16 is in the first position. In the illustrated embodiment, the second surface 20 b, 21 b of each upper panel 14 b, 16 b has a plurality of projections 30 extending therefrom. These projections 30 are utilized to facilitate securing a floor panel (e.g., 102, 104 of FIGS. 3-4) to the upper panels 14 b, 16 b via, for example, ultrasonic welding.

In the illustrated embodiment, each hinge member 14, 16 includes a lower panel 14 c, 16 c that extends outwardly from the base member 14 a, 16 a in spaced-apart, opposing relationship with the upper panel 14 b, 16 b. The lower panels 14 c, 16 c of the hinge members 14, 16 are substantially coplanar when both hinge members 14, 16 are in respective first positions.

The upper and lower panels 14 b, 14 c and 16 b, 16 c of the respective hinge members 14, 16 are configured to removably secure a vehicle floor panel therebetween. The lower panel 14 c, 16 c of each hinge member 14, 16 includes opposite first and second surfaces 22 a, 22 b and 23 a, 23 b, respectively. The first surface 22 a, 23 a of each lower panel 14 c, 16 c has a plurality of projections 30 extending therefrom. These projections 30 are utilized to facilitate securing a floor panel (e.g., 102, 104 of FIGS. 3-4) to the lower panels 14 c, 16 c via, for example, ultrasonic welding.

In the illustrated embodiment, the upper panel 14 b, 16 b of each hinge member 14, 16 has a tapered free end 32, and the lower panel 14 c, 16 c of each hinge member 14, 16 has a tapered free end 34. The tapered free ends 32, 34 can facilitate insertion of floor panels between the upper and lower panels 14 b, 14 c and 16 b, 16 c, respectively.

According to embodiments of the present invention, each hinge member 14, 16 is pivotally attached to a respective bridge member edge portion 12 a, 12 b via a web 12 c of material having a thickness T (FIG. 1a) of less than about one millimeter (1 mm). However, web 12 c may have various thicknesses without limitation. In addition, each hinge member 14, 16 may be pivotally attached to a respective bridge member edge portion 12 a, 12 b in various ways.

According to embodiments of the present invention a width W of the bridge member 12 between the first and second edge portions 12 a, 12 b is at least twice a pile dimension Y of a carpet supported by the hinge apparatus 10, as illustrated in FIG. 4. According to other embodiments of the present invention a width W of the bridge member 12 between the first and second edge portions 12 a, 12 b is at least twice a compressed pile dimension (not shown) of a carpet supported by the hinge apparatus 10. As known to those skilled in the art, the pile of a carpet can be compressed without degrading the function or aesthetics of the carpet. The term “compressed pile dimension”, thus, means the dimension of a carpet that has its pile compressed by an amount that does not damage the carpet or negatively effect the aesthetics of the carpet.

The hinge apparatus 10 may be formed from various materials including polymeric materials, with polypropylene being a preferred material. Other materials that may be utilized include polyethylene, polyamide, polyoxymethylene (POM), etc., in their natural, filled, reinforced, or blended formulations. The hinge apparatus 10 may be formed via an extrusion process, but other thermoplastic or thermoset processes may be utilized. According to embodiments of the present invention, the hinge apparatus 10 is formed of recyclable material. Moreover, an entire vehicle floor system (hinge apparatus 10, carpet, load floor) may be recyclable.

According to embodiments of the present invention, each hinge member 14, 16 of the hinge apparatus 10 may require only a respective base member 14 a, 16 a and a respective upper panel 14 b, 16 b. As such, when each hinge member 14, 16 is in the first position, the hinge apparatus 10 has a generally T-shaped configuration.

Referring to FIG. 3, a vehicle floor system 100, according to embodiments of the present invention, includes the hinge apparatus 10 of FIGS. 1-2, a pair of floor panels 102, 104, each secured between a respective pair of upper and lower panels 14 b, 14 c and 16 b, 16 c of hinge members 14, 16, and a carpet 110 secured to the bridge member surface 13 and to the first surface 20 a, 21 a of the upper panels 14 b, 16 b.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the carpet 110 includes pile having a dimension Y. The bridge member 12 has a width W between the first and second edge portions 12 a, 12 b that is at least twice the pile dimension Y.

Hinge apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention, may be utilized with floor panels that are not substantially coplanar, but that are at an angle relative to each other. FIGS. 5-6 illustrate hinge apparatus 200, 300, respectively, that are utilized with angled floor panels. Hinge apparatus 200, 300 each have respective bridge members 212, 312 that are similar in configuration as described above with respect to FIGS. 1-4) Each hinge member 214, 216 (FIG. 5) and 314, 316 (FIG. 6) is pivotally connected to an edge portion of a respective bridge member 212, 312 as described above with respect to bridge member 12. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 5, the base members 214 a, 216 a of the hinge members 214, 216 interlock with each other at a single location. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 6, the base members 314 a, 316 a of the hinge members 314, 316 interlock with each other at two locations.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 5-6, only one hinge member (216, 316) has an upper panel surface that is coplanar with the bridge member (212, 312) when the hinge member (216, 316) is in a first position. Hinge apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention may have various shapes, sizes, and configurations without limitation.

The foregoing is illustrative of the present invention and is not to be construed as limiting thereof. Although a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the claims. The invention is defined by the following claims, with equivalents of the claims to be included therein. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A hinge apparatus for a vehicle floor system, comprising: an elongated, planar bridge member, comprising opposite first and second edge portions and a surface extending between the first and second edge portions; and opposite first and second hinge members, each pivotally connected to a respective one of the first and second edge portions of the bridge member, wherein each hinge member comprises a base member and a planar upper panel extending outwardly from the base member, wherein each hinge member is movable between a first position and a second position, and wherein the base members of the hinge members are in adjacent, contacting relationship when the first and second hinge members are both in the first position.
 2. The hinge apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper panel of each hinge member comprises opposite first and second surfaces, and wherein the first surface of the hinge member is substantially flush with the bridge member surface when the hinge member is in the first position.
 3. The hinge apparatus of claim 1, wherein the base members of the first and second hinge members interlock with each other when the first and second hinge members are both in the first position.
 4. The hinge apparatus of claim 1, wherein each hinge member comprises a lower panel that extends outwardly from the base member in spaced-apart, opposing relationship with the upper panel, and wherein the upper and lower panels of each hinge member are configured to removably secure a vehicle floor panel therebetween.
 5. The hinge apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second surface of each upper panel comprises one or more projections that facilitate securing a vehicle floor panel to the upper panel.
 6. The hinge apparatus of claim 4, wherein the lower panel of each hinge member comprises opposite first and second surfaces, and wherein the first surface of each lower panel comprises one or more projections that facilitate securing a vehicle floor panel to the lower panel.
 7. The hinge apparatus of claim 4, wherein the lower panels of the hinge members are substantially coplanar when both hinge members are in respective first positions.
 8. The hinge apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper panel of each hinge member comprises a tapered free end.
 9. The hinge apparatus of claim 4, wherein the lower panel of each hinge member comprises a tapered free end.
 10. The hinge apparatus of claim 1, wherein each hinge member is pivotally attached to the respective bridge member edge portion via a web of material having a thickness of less than about 1 millimeter (mm).
 11. The hinge apparatus of claim 4, wherein each hinge member is pivotally attached to the respective bridge member edge portion via a web of material having a thickness of less than about 1 millimeter (mm).
 12. The hinge apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper panel of each hinge member is substantially coplanar with the bridge member when in the first position, and wherein the upper panel of each hinge member is transverse to the bridge member when in the second position. 